Aboriginal Health Group Executive 2009-2010
Daniel McKennitt
President
Daniel McKennitt is from the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation in southern Manitoba and is currently in his 4th year of medical school at the University of Alberta. Before this Daniel obtained his Bachelor of Science, with a double major in mathematics and physical sciences. Daniel hopes to enter community medicine as a residency and eventually become a Medical Officer of Health. He has a wealth of experience dealing with Aboriginal youth through institutions such as the Canadian Red Cross, Alberta Advanced Education, Canadian Heritage and the University of Alberta. Daniel has a love of reading and writing in his spare time and hopes to help lead the AHG into a truly interdiscplinary group this year.
Lisa Bourque-Bearskin
VP Programs
Tansi/hello Everyone! My name is R. Lisa Bourque-Bearskin from the Beaver Lake Cree Nation. I am a Registered Nurse, as well as the Alberta Board representative for the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada. With the support of my family I was able completed my Master's in Nursing on the topic of cultural competency and with their continued commitment I have started my PhD program. I am passionate about doing research in the area of Access to Health Care for Aboriginal peoples framed within the notion of cultural safety. I believe in an inter-disciplinary approach to health care; especially in Aboriginal communities where issues are complex and diverse. I hope to bring my experience and networking capacity to the AHG.
Laura Brookbanks
VP Membership
Laura Brookbanks grew up in southern Alberta in a small community outside of Calgary. She's starting her second year of Biology at the University of Alberta. She hopes enter into a nursing program or a Masters in Public Health after she graduates. Laura has volunteered since high school, working in the peer support program there, with the special needs classroom and mentoring younger students. After high school she volunteered in a special needs workshop in Nova Scotia and a natural medicine laboratory in Cuba. Last year she was part of a group that won the Davis Projects for Peace grant and helped set up a water quality laboratory in Panama.
Freda Yerbich
VP Communications
Freda Yerbich is from Buffalo Narrows First Nation in northern Saskatchewan. She is in her 2nd year of a combined Native Studies/Education degree. Freda is a mother to three wonderful children and has volunteered for the Aboriginal Student Council and other Aboriginal organizations in Edmonton.
Anita Lafferty
VP Financial
Anita Lafferty is Dene originally from the Northwest Territories and is starting her third year of a Bachelor of Education degree at the Univeristy of Alberta. She plans to continue with her Masters in Education majoring in Psychology. Anita has one daughter, age 6 and is an advocate for youth of all ages. Anita was President of the Aboriginal Student's Club at MacEwan for two years prior. Her experience includes volunteer work with Coyote Kids Program, Edmonton Aboriginal Catholic High Schools, Red Cross, Catholic Social Services and many other organizations. Anita won the Lawrence Decore Award for student leadership at MacEwan for all the volunteer work she has committed to the school and to her surrounding community. Anita is an avid runner and recently ran the Vancouver marathon and plans to promote healthy lifestyles in all her teachings.
